Hello and thank you for visiting AikiWeb, the
world's most active online Aikido community! This site is home to
over 22,000 aikido practitioners from around the world and covers a
wide range of aikido topics including techniques, philosophy, history,
humor, beginner issues, the marketplace, and more.

If you wish to join in the discussions or use the other advanced
features available, you will need to register first. Registration is
absolutely free and takes only a few minutes to complete so sign up today!

I work in security, deal with 1-3 fights a week. I have used some of my aikido to good effect, and some just doesn't show up. It has all been hampered by the fighters not knowing how to take ukemi for my techniques. Slows stuff down, changes things.

He slaps a talkshow host who at first does not want to attack a 74-year old and when is persuaded to do so expects to be rolled around softly like in the demonstration before, and not whacked in the mouth.

I work in security, deal with 1-3 fights a week. I have used some of my aikido to good effect, and some just doesn't show up. It has all been hampered by the fighters not knowing how to take ukemi for my techniques. Slows stuff down, changes things.

I have a video manual available on a simple system of take downs and restraints for law enforcement and security, They are meant to be non-injurious when used on resistant subjects who know no ukemi. It's basically a PowerPoint manual with video clips on a DVD so it's designed to take on a lap top to the edge of the mat and work off of it. It has to be viewed on a PV, not a Mac.

He slaps a talkshow host who at first does not want to attack a 74-year old and when is persuaded to do so expects to be rolled around softly like in the demonstration before, and not whacked in the mouth.

Thank you: you passed the interview - you've got the job.
Caring for blind people isn't a responsibility to be taken lightly, but with your grizzled, straight-forward demeanour in describing what things look like to people with functional eyes, I think you know what you're in for. Thank you, Jesub.

Hi Krystal,
not sure if this is what you're looking for but we are beginning work on a vid now "Boxing for Aikido' focusing on conditioning and application. The application sequences will feature actual boxers ( and other fighters) attacking in real time. I think this vid will be dif from most of what I've seen out there now mainly because of the skill level of the attackers.
And yes, the aiki principles applied are not what most would calls 'clean'.
You can stayed tuned at our website for excerpts in the near future.www.potomacaikikai.org

If you are doing security work, why are you worried about them taking ukemi?

Because I want them to be controlled as thoroughly and safely as possible. I do eventually have to let them up and sometimes I have to explain to the nice judge why I tore the tendons in someone's wrist or faceplanted a guy in the parking lot.

Because I actually am a nice person who needs to make mortgage. The engineering degree is apparently useless in my area, so I may as well pimp out my black belt.

Because I want them to be controlled as thoroughly and safely as possible. I do eventually have to let them up and sometimes I have to explain to the nice judge why I tore the tendons in someone's wrist or faceplanted a guy in the parking lot.

Because I actually am a nice person who needs to make mortgage. The engineering degree is apparently useless in my area, so I may as well pimp out my black belt.

Because I would like to represent my art well and fairly.

"He attacked me, I grabbed him, he fell down while I was struggling with him and broke his arm. It all happened so fast, I was just trying to keep myself safe."

That is my prepared speech for anyone who asks me to explain myself after a fight.

Having been around and with the friendships of law enforcement officers; there is a real and present need to disable, or force an attacker to submit without causing them harm or injury. There are just simply some examples where it is utterly inappropriate to injury your attacker. Example: I knew an officer who was struck by a belligerent pregnant woman. If his actions were to break her arm, or even so much as knock her down, he could lose his job, be sued, or even charged with a crime himself.
I personally have worked with children, and have been attacked by children in tantrums. I've worked with the mentally handi-capped, and have been attacked in ways that have caused me SERIOUS injury. Both instances, not appropriate to use excessive force.(there are actually laws that state what you can and can not do to defend yourself when attacked by the mentally deficient... and the laws don't leave you much recourse for self-defense in the end.)
Self defense has a lot to do with self-preservation. If your ass will end up fired or in jail for breaking grandma's hip, preserve yourself by not choosing to protect yourself against granny by knocking her down a flight of stairs. :P

I have a video manual available on a simple system of take downs and restraints for law enforcement and security, They are meant to be non-injurious when used on resistant subjects who know no ukemi. It's basically a PowerPoint manual with video clips on a DVD so it's designed to take on a lap top to the edge of the mat and work off of it.

"He attacked me, I grabbed him, he fell down while I was struggling with him and broke his arm. It all happened so fast, I was just trying to keep myself safe."

That is my prepared speech for anyone who asks me to explain myself after a fight.

If that's what happened, that's great. If it isn't, I dont lie well, certainly not in a court of law. Yes, I have the backup of a canned response based on training and experience. However, I dont want to have to use it beyond the occasional incident report.

If that's what happened, that's great. If it isn't, I dont lie well, certainly not in a court of law. Yes, I have the backup of a canned response based on training and experience. However, I dont want to have to use it beyond the occasional incident report.

My point was that I just don't complicate things.

What sounds better on a police report.

He attacked me with a lazy right cross, I slipped the punch and clinched, from there I noticed he had a horrible base, so I hooked in a standing kimura grip and threw him with harai goshi making sure to land on him as hard as possible, breaking his arm.

or

It all happened so fast! This guy was just coming at me, so I grabbed him to keep him from hitting me and we struggled, in the process of defending myself from his attack we fell to the ground and his arm was broken. I was really scared!

There is an old video of O'Sensei using shihonage, I believe on a US marine. You should see the ukemi he tries to take.

IMHO, I believe when using Aikido on the 'untrained' your technique has to be very clear and strong, but not necessarily hard. Like working with a beginner in class but just a bit hard to produce your desired results. i.e. you may want to cause them some pain to give them a wake up call, but not an injury.

BTW, how long have you done Aikido and what style?

Regards...

B'Dragon

"They weren't just being thrown, it was if they were being shocked by high-voltage electricity." - Hiroshi Tada on O'Sensei's technique

IMHO, I believe when using Aikido on the 'untrained' your technique has to be very clear and strong, but not necessarily hard. Like working with a beginner in class but just a bit hard to produce your desired results. i.e. you may want to cause them some pain to give them a wake up call, but not an injury.

I also found the falls that his students took from Iriminage at the beginning interesting. They turn it into a forward roll. Do many people do that? It sounds like a recipe for cauliflower noses to me.